Skier training apparatus which allows for transverse and longitudinal movement



Oct. 28, .1969 w. RUEGSEGGER 3,

SKIER TRAINING APPARATUS WHICH ALLOWS FOR TRANSVERSE AND LONGITUDINAL MOVEMENT Filed Dec. 5, 1967 9 t pl INVENTOR. WAL TEE R l/l' GSL'G GER ATTORNEY United States Patent 3 475,021 SKIER TRAINING APPARATUS WHICH ALLOWS FOR TRANSVERSE AND LONGITUDINAL MOVEMENT Walter Ruegsegger, 358 Tobelhofstrasse, 8044 Zurich, Switzerland Filed Dec. 5, 1967, Ser. No. 688,274 Claims priority, application Switzerland, Dec. 12, 1966, 17,942/66 Int. Cl. A63b 69/18 US. Cl. 27257 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An apparatus for training of skiers employing a pair of simulated skis suspended at one end above a frame and having the other end resting on a transverse shaft carried by the rear portion of the frame. The skis are supported on the shaft and suspended from the frame in a manner which allows the skis to slidably move longitudinally and transversely of the frame.

This invention relates to training devices for skiers employing simulated skis.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION There are prior art devices for the training of skiers wherein the skis are connected with a rotatable ring mounted on rollers through the intermediary of elastic bands or springs. This permits making certain movements that occur during skiing. The device for holding the skis, by means of rubber bands, for example, is however in certain positions too loose, and in other positions it is too tight, so that the movements and the forces have little in common with what actually occurs while skiing. Furthermore, this apparatus is quite expensive, complicated in construction, and therefore relatively costly.

In the case of other known devices for training skiers only certain take-off and downhill-run movements can be made; however, because of a rigid connection of the skis with a rotatable support there can be no training in racing movements.

There are also skier-training devices that do indeed permit to-and-fro movements in the longitudinal axis. However, they do not have provision for moving the skis independently of one another in the remaining directions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The skier-training apparatus of the invention avoids the drawbacks of these prior devices. This training apparatus is characterized in that the front ends of the training skis are held through the intermediary of flexible elements and of two suspenders able to move to and fro, and the rear ends are arranged for making lateral and longitudinal movements, the whole being designed so that each of the two training skis fastened to the feet during use of the apparatus can make, independently of the other ski, forward and backward movements, as well as lateral movements, and so that each ski, because of the flexible way in which it is attached, can make a turnabout on its longitudinal axis.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an impoved training apparatus for skiers.

It is another object of this invention to provide a training apparatus for skiers characterized in that the training skis are held in a suspension permitting independent movement of the two skis in lateral and longitudinal directions.

Still a different object of this invention is to provide an improved support arrangement for training skis.

3,475,021 Patented Oct. 28, 1969 A still different object of this invention is to provide a skier-training device operable Without producing disturbing noises.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The drawing shows in a perspective view one example of construction of the subject of the invention.

The training apparatus has a frame which is formed of two bars 5, whose rear ends are connected together by a shaft 6, and whose front ends are connected together by a bar 7. A tube 14 is rotatably mounted upon the rear shaft 6 so it does not contact the floor upon which the frame is set.

At the front end of the frame and by means of the bar 7, the ends of the two branches of a U-shaped element 8 are attached so that they are able to pivot out of the vertical position in which they are used and to fold down upon the frame, or be locked in any position by means of a locking device. To this U-shaped element are attached pivotably, through the intermediary of springs 9, two hold-on rods or poles 10 that correspond to the ski poles.

At the inside of the cross member 11 of the U-shaped element 8 are two downwardly-directed pairs of links 13 which serve to support each of the levers 16 that are pivotably attached at 17.

The training apparatus includes two ski-like boards 19, set adjacent to one another in the same horizontal plane with their front ends set under the U-shaped element 8 and bent upward in a direction toward the cross-member 11 of the latter. As a means for attaching the ski boards 19 to the pivotable levers 16, use is made of flexible means 12; for example, pieces of wire cable, laces, ribbons or spring elements, having one end connected to the levers 20. The pieces of wire cable 12 are fastened to the tips of the ski boards 19 as well as to the levers 16. Upon each ski board 19 is fastened a foot plate 22, that serves to carry a conventional ski binding (not illustrated) so that each ski board plays the part of a ski, whereby the plate 22, because of the action of the wire cable 12, remains in the upright position shown in the figure, but can be turned through a certain angle about the axis of the straight part of the ski board 19 when so desired through exerting a suitable pressure on the foot plate 22. The arrangement of the foot plates on the ski boards 19 can also be such that the former can be shifted in the longitudinal direction of the latter.

In order to make use of the training apparatus the trainee, wearing ski boots on his feet, stands on the foot plates 22 and attaches his boots by means of conventional ski binders. It is also possible to stand on the apparatus while wearing house shoes or ordinary street shoes, instead of ski boots. The two poles 10 are then grasped at their grips 23 after which the training can begin. The poles 10 are of telescoping construction for adjustment for heights suitable for the user. The apparatus permits making the same body movements that occur when ski-running over snow, whereby the one ski board 19 and then the other can be pushed alternately backward and then forward again by the aid of the pivotable levers 16 and by running over the tube 14. At the same time, by the aid of the poles 10, the upper part of the body through the alternate moving forward and backward of the one and then the other shoulder can make movements that suit the movements of the legs.

In addition to imitating skiing on a straightaway, it is, however, also possible to make body movements such as are made in following a ski trail where changes of directions have to be made (stern turns, christianas and so forth). This is made possible in that the boards 19 serving as ski substitutes are attached flexibly at their front ends to pivotable levers 16 and the ski board ends can be slid, singly and independently of one another, out of the central longitudinal plane of the apparatus both to the right and also to the left while sliding over the tube '14, whereby the ski board tips are able to make only a forward or backward movement. It is even possible to imitate the so called tilting of one or the other ski, or of both skis, because the ski boards 19, as a result of using the wire cables 12 or the like as connecting means, can be turned to a limited extent about their longitudinal axes.

For the purpose of using the training apparatus in closed rooms without producing disturbing noises, the parts concerned, the tube 14 for example, can be made of synthetic resin materials.

Instead of the wire cables 12, it is also possible to use other wire, cord, or band-like elements, or spring-like linkage elements which will provide conical movement with the apex thereof at the junction of the lever and linkage. It is also possible, instead of using such elements, to provide universal or ball-and-socket joints between the ski tips and the levers 16.

There has been disclosed heretofore the best embodiment of the invention presently contemplated and it is to be understood that various changes and modifications may be made by those skilled in the art Without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A training apparatus for skiers comprising:

(a) a supporting frame having a front and a rear portion;

(b) a pair of elongated levers each having one end pivotally mounted on a horizontal axis spaced above the front portion of said supporting frame for movement in a longitudinal direction;

(0) a transverse shaft carried by said supporting frame rear portion;

(d) a pair of ski boards extending in the longitudinal direction and having their respective rear portions slidingly supported by said shaft; and

(e) a linkage connected between the front end of each said ski board and the other end of a respective said lever.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said shaft is rotatable.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said supporting frame front is pivotally mounted for arcuate movement to and from a vertical position.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 including means to selectively lock said supporting member front frame in a fixed position.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said supporting member front frame carries a pair of poles.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said poles are joined to said front frame by flexible means.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said flexible means are springs.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,982,843 12/1934 Traver 272-70 FOREIGN PATENTS 568,996 1/1933 Germany. 832,295 12/1938 France.

ANTON O. OECHSLE, Primary Examiner R. W. DIAZ, Assistant Examiner 

